Sep 24, 2019, 9:23 am
Last edit by: michab
The following website seems to allow you to preview the menu options ahead of time: http://cloud.o.delta.com/fltInfo
The Delta App lets you pre-select meals 7 days prior to departure. You may or may not receive an email around the same time (it's inconsistent whether you even receive an email). On the "MY TRIPS" tab, any eligible trip in the list will have a SELECT YOUR ENTREE button; this also appears if you tap on a trip and are viewing the individual trip details. The app is able to handle selections for multiple passengers traveling on the same record (i.e. you will be able to make selections on behalf of traveling companions)
Sample screenshot:
PRE-COVID: If you don't get the email, or only one of multiple passengers receives the email*, you can ask a phone or Twitter/FB agent for the choices, and they can make your selection up until T-24h (not all agents are sharp about this, so you may need to explain that you want to pre-order a regular meal, *not* one of the special vegetarian/Kosher meals etc. HUCA as needed) Nowadays it is unclear if agents can even still do this (or if just the average phone/chat agent does not know how to do so anymore)
*If this happens, double check that you have an email address (for each passenger) in the reservation. (But this can happen at random anyway even if you do have an email address listed.)
The Delta App lets you pre-select meals 7 days prior to departure. You may or may not receive an email around the same time (it's inconsistent whether you even receive an email). On the "MY TRIPS" tab, any eligible trip in the list will have a SELECT YOUR ENTREE button; this also appears if you tap on a trip and are viewing the individual trip details. The app is able to handle selections for multiple passengers traveling on the same record (i.e. you will be able to make selections on behalf of traveling companions)
Sample screenshot:
PRE-COVID: If you don't get the email, or only one of multiple passengers receives the email*, you can ask a phone or Twitter/FB agent for the choices, and they can make your selection up until T-24h (not all agents are sharp about this, so you may need to explain that you want to pre-order a regular meal, *not* one of the special vegetarian/Kosher meals etc. HUCA as needed) Nowadays it is unclear if agents can even still do this (or if just the average phone/chat agent does not know how to do so anymore)
*If this happens, double check that you have an email address (for each passenger) in the reservation. (But this can happen at random anyway even if you do have an email address listed.)
Pre-ordering Meals on Delta, the Definitive Thread
Mar 29, 2016, 8:13 am
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Mar 29, 2016, 8:24 am
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
It would be nice if photos of the meal choices were provided... and a 0 to 5 star rating system for feedback. 
I recently finished a TPAC RT itinerary involving 8 different D1 meals. Given the opportunity, I might select 2 of the 8 for a second try.
One that I would not select again was a "Spanish Omelette" where they had somehow formed a mass of scrambled egg-like substance into the shape of a miniature hotdog bun and filled it with some sort of vegetable-derived substance. With croissants that were so dried out that they were crispy like biscuits.
I recently finished a TPAC RT itinerary involving 8 different D1 meals. Given the opportunity, I might select 2 of the 8 for a second try.
One that I would not select again was a "Spanish Omelette" where they had somehow formed a mass of scrambled egg-like substance into the shape of a miniature hotdog bun and filled it with some sort of vegetable-derived substance. With croissants that were so dried out that they were crispy like biscuits.
Mar 29, 2016, 8:33 am
#138
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
It would look tacky for DL to serve obviously different quality meals in FC/D1 depending on how the passenger got into the premium cabin. Currently DL doesn't even do this to nonrevs. In fact, I basically like the idea of FAs not knowing who paid for a premium cabin ticket and who was upgraded (and on what basis).
Mar 30, 2016, 7:17 am
#140
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Mar 30, 2016, 9:13 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Will this be sort of like the onboard chef system EY uses? I do like this idea. It would be great to see the upgraded elites spring into action at 10,000ft and start preparing something palatable. Perhaps with all the extra hands they could add meals to flights in the 400-900 mile window..
Mar 30, 2016, 9:43 am
#142
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
On more than one daytime long haul flight, I have literally sat there wishing that I could do the beverage service instead of the FA. Sick of sitting and wanting something to do. It's like when you've been sitting too long at a dinner party and you actually want to volunteer to clear the table.
Mar 30, 2016, 11:46 am
#143
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Mar 31, 2016, 6:50 am
#144
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Thanks, TrojanTraveler and MSPeconomist; all of the talk about differentiations in service got me thinking about what the FAs actually see on the manifests. Then I recalled, from way back when on a transpac flight with UA wondering in the galley and noticing that the manifests had $$$ signs next to the various FF statuses. I remember thinking that the $ signs were hilarious. I guess they were generated by Fastair or Apollo or whatever system they were using. Perhaps it was an omen of things to come 
Mar 31, 2016, 8:35 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,187
As I've mentioned before, service should be uniform regardless of how much you paid for the ticket, or what instrument (or lack thereof) you used to sit there.
I don't want to be sitting next to someone who gets ignored and treated poorly because they got an op-up.
I don't want to be sitting next to someone who gets ignored and treated poorly because they got an op-up.
Mar 31, 2016, 10:33 am
#146
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: delta dm
Posts: 1,677
I agree to a point except when it comes down to the guy that paid 6k for D1 vs the op up. The guy who paid should get first choice.
Mar 31, 2016, 11:37 am
#147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,187
And how are the FAs going to know how much the pax paid for the ticket? A discounted Z fare can cost several thousand less than a pax who paid B or Y and got an op-up.
Mar 31, 2016, 2:21 pm
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
RUC/GUC/miles upgrades are considered paid seats.